Crystallizing centrifuge



Feb. 21, 1961 J. Ross ORYSTALLIZING CENTRIFUGE Filed Nov. 8, 1957IINVENTOR JOHN R055.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEK Feb. 21,1961 J, Ross 2,972,524

' CRYSTALLIZING CENTRIFUGE Filed Nov. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.

JOHN K055.

United States Patent 2,97 2,524 CRYSTALLIZING CENTRIFUGE John Ross,Mount Vernon, N. (3701 Henry Hudson Parkway, New York 63, NY.)

Filed Nov. 8, 1957, Ser. No. 695,267 3 Claims. (Cl. 23-273) Thisinvention relates to a method and apparatus for producing crystalshaving a hardness, on the Mohsscale, equal to diamond, i.e., to 10.6 onsaid scale.

Synthesis of diamond crystals have been attempted and, although theavenues of approach are few since methods used in connection with thesynthetic production of lesser hard crystals, corundum, for instance,some attempts have been made to produce crystals of carbon by using amixture of hydrocarbons and metallic lithium in an enclosed ironchamber, by creating high pressures resulting from the sudden coolingand the resulting rapid contraction of a mass of dissolved carbon inmolten iron, and in other analogous ways. ,All either failed completelyto produce hard crystalline carbon or, at enormous expense, producedmicroscopic crystals having little or no intrinsic value.

The present method approaches the problem of syn- 1 thesis ofdiamond-hard carbon crystals by causing molten carbon to separate byprecipitation out of solution with either silver or iron, the two metalsthat are solvents of carbon. Accordingly, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a method for producing carbon by precipitation, asabove indicated.

Another object of the invention is to employ centrifugal force to effectsuch precipitation, the force being effective in all directions ratherthan being uni-planar. A corollary object is to provide novel apparatusto produce such centrifugal force so that the precipitation of thecarbon can be effected by centrifugal force in an infinite number ofdirections.

Another object of the invention is to precipitate carbon as aboveindicated, in the presence of high heat and while enclosed in arestricted crucible cavity, the invention contemplating provision ofsuch heat during universal centrifuging as above.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be more fully realized as the following description ofpreferred stepsof the method and of preferred apparatus for carrying outthe method progresses, the same having basis on the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a centrifuge for carrying out thecontemplated precipitation and crystallizing of carbon.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof in a different position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal view of a crucible usedin the centrifuge.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In practice, a mechanical mix comprising 90% carbon and 10% silver byvolume, both in powdered form, is placed in a relatively small chamberand subjected to both heat and centrifugal force. The carbon content mayvary and may be as high as 95% and as low as the hardness of theresultant crystal would vary accordingly, being harder when theproportion of carbon is higher.

The chamber is preferably substantially filled with Patented Feb. 21,1961 these two ingredients and the same is subjected to heat which ispreferred to be at 3500 F. and may vary between 2300 F. minimum and 5000F. maximum.

After the heat has been applied for a time suflicient to liquefy bothingredients, the same are subjected to 'the pressure generated bycentrifugal force as applied by the apparatus herein disclosed.

The speed of the apparatus will, of course, depend on its size and theforce achieved on the mass being centrifuged, 3000 rpm. is deemed toprovide the force desired in apparatus of the type illustrated.

While silver is preferred as the metal, in solution, from which thecarbon is precipitated, iron may be used. The

present method separates or precipitates carbon from solution in silveror iron by the simultaneous application of heat and centrifugal forceand, thereby crystallizing the carbon in the process.

The silver being the heavier, the same will separate from the carbon andline the chamber walls, the carbon, being confined to the center of saidchamber, crystallizes under the force imposed thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus there illustratedcomprises, generally a support 5, an outer gimbal ring 6' mounted torotate in said support on one axis, means 7 to drive the ring 6, aninner gimbal ring 8 mounted to rotate on a transverse axis in said ring6, means 9 to drive ring 8, a crucible 10 carried by the inner gimbalring, means 11 to heat said crucible, and means 12 to bring electriccurrent to the means 9 and 11. The support 5 is shown as a pair ofbearings 15 that are arranged in alignment as shown and, while shown asseparated, may be made as part of a base frame. In any case, saidbearings are spaced to accommodate the outer gimbal ring 6.

Said outer ring is shown with aligned oppositely directed trunnions 16that are disposed in bearings 15 and are provided with thrust bearings17, arranged in opposition, to center the ring between said bearings.The outer ring is shown as of rectangular form and may have the desiredmass to provide forces of inertia during rotation around the axis oftrunnions 16.

The drive means 7 is shown as an electric motor 18 and a driveconnection 19 between said motor and one trunnion 16 which may beextended for the purpose. A belt and pulley drive connection is shownalthough, a chain drive, etc. may be used.

The inner gimbal ring 8 is shown with aligned trunnions 20 disposed inbearings 21 provided in ring 6, the axis of trunnions 20 being normal tothe axis of trunnions 16 of the outer ring. Thrust bearings 22, arrangedin opposition, center ring 8 between its bearings.

The drive 9 is shown as an electric motor 23 carried by ring 6 and agearing connection 24 between said motor and one of the trunnions 20.

The crucible 10 preferably'comprises a solidly massive and elongatedbody comprising two separate parts 25 and 26, each provided with half ofa spherical cavity 27. Said parts 25 and 26 are connected by threads 28.Since the crucible is subject to high heat, the same may be made of amaterial suitably resistant to melting or disintegration under the heatused. One alloy suggested for this purpose is ferrozirconium. Inpractice, the crucible is removably mounted in ring 8, as shown, suchmounting comprising end caps 29 of heat insulating material, threadedstuds 30 on said caps, and threaded bearings 31 in diametrally oppositeparts of ring 8 and receptive of said studs. Set screws 32 may be usedto lock the studs after adjustment of caps 29 to crucible-holdingposition, as in Fig. 1.

The means 11 may preferably be of the electrical'induction type and thesame is here represented as a coil 33 surrounding the portion of thecrucible in which the chamber or cavity 27 is provided.

It is evident that current can be brought to motor 9 and coil 33 inusual ways. Means 12, for example, shows a system of siip ring means 34and 35 to bring currentfrom any outer part, such as one bearing 15,firstto the outer ring 6, and then, from the latter, to theinner ring 3and the means 11. While the wires or conduotors, in the main, have' beenomitted, the manner of their provision shouldbe clear.

Aiso, instrumentation, not forming part of this invention, may be used.Thus, vibration dampers may be incorporated in the device; a speedindicator, such as a tachometer, may measure the speed of one or bothrings, etc.

Since variations of the invention may well be made,

1 desire to reserve to myself all modifications thereof that may fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus oi the character described comprising an outer gimbal ringhaving an axis of rotation, an inner gimbal ring .on an axis of rotationtransverse to the axis of rotation of the outer ring and carried by thelatter, a seaied crucible carried by the inner ring and subject to thecompound movement of rotation of said inner ring, and electrical heatingmeans to heat the crucible, and means to drive each ring independentlyof the other, said driving means including a driving member carried bythe outer ring and having driving engagement with the inner ring.

2.'A centrifuging device comprising outer and inner gimbal rings on tworespectively transverse axes, means to rotate each ring around its axis,the inner ring being carried by theouter ring and subject to thecentrifugal force imparted thereto by rotation of both rings andcompletely closed crucible removably carried by said inner ring, themeans to rotate one ring being independent of the means to rotate theother ring.

3. A centrifuging device comprising outer and inner gimbal rings on tworespectively transverse axes, electrically powered means to rotate eachring independently of the other, around its own axis, the inner ringbeing rotatably carried by the outer ring, a completely sealed,removabie crucible carried by the inner ring and subject to thecentrifugal forces imparted thereto by rotation of both rings, themeansfor rotating the inner ring comprising an electric motor carried by theouter ring, power transmission means operatively connecting saidelectric motor to a trunnion of the inner ring to rotate said inner ringrelative to said outer ring, slip ring means to conduct electric currentto the means for rotating the inner ring, said latter means beingprovided between the outer and inner rings and an electrical heater coilembracing said crucible.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS1,320,910 Perry Nov. 4, 1919 1,420,512 Baily June 20, 1922 1,637,291Barnett July 26, 1927 1,658,084 Hudson Feb. 7, 1928 2,659,107 De BellNov. 17, 1953 2,740,176 Duval Apr. 3, 1956 2,811,747 Belz Nov. 5, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 1,308 Great Britain 1855

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING AN OUTER GIMBAL RINGHAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION, AN INNER GIMBAL RING ON AN AXIS OF ROTATIONTRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE OUTER RING AND CARRIED BY THELATTER, A SEALED CRUCIBLE CARRIED BY THE INNER RING AND SUBJECT TO THECOMPOUND MOVEMENT OF ROTATION OF SAID INNER RING, AND ELECTRICAL HEATINGMEANS TO HEAT THE CRUCIBLE, AND MEANS TO DRIVE EACH RING INDEPENDENTLYOF THE OTHER, SAID DRIVING MEANS INCLUDIN A DRIVING MEMBER CARRIED BYTHE OUTER RING AND HAVING DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER RING.